ImproMedia - Image Beaming

<body text="black", link="black"> <center> <h1></h1> <div id="note" class="PopStyle"></div> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <a name="beeldprojectie"></a> <table width=100% cellpadding=5 cellspacing=0> <tr align=left> <td><h1>Projection of visuals </h1></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>'Vision' and 'sound' are firmly linked together traditionally in the fields of motion picture and television. We talk about 'multimedia' when some kind of user (or operator) interaction is added to the sound and/or vision. Nowadays the term<em> 'Multimedia'</em> is used for almost everything from a simple computer application that says 'beep' to a full-featured presentation with hi-tech sound and vision. It quickly became somewhat of a trend to experiment with the combination of multimedia and 'theatre'. Due to financial or technical barriers the 'interactive' element in this projects is sometimes only quite marginal. It is very interesting to see although that more and more beamed visuals or footage is used for scripted performances on stage recently. Full swing improvisation with sound and vision is not yet commonplace although.<br> <br> Pushing the technical and practical obstacles aside for a moment enables us to think about the fantastic things that could be done in the theatre with improvised multimedia. How about:<br> <ul> <li>An applicable projected backdrop for an improvised scene or theatresports game challenge</li> <li>Acting behind a semi transparent cloth on which text balloons (with texts!) or the wasps that fly around the head of the actor are beamed</li> <li>A dance performance with projected objects dancing along with movements based on motion capture of the real dancers. (Okay, this one is already done. Really!)</li> <li>Etcetera</li> </ul> To put it in popular terms: <em>The Sky is the Limit</em>, even better if that sky could be beamed in the theatre. Imagine a scene that takes place outside... How fantastic would it be if it could be backdropped with a few slowly crawling clouds. Very clear ideas, not cloudy at all. Or are they? </p></td> </tr> </table> <a name="scoreborden"></a> <table width=100% cellpadding=5 cellspacing=0> <tr> <td width=* align=left colspan=2><h1>Score Keeping </h1></td> </tr> <tr> <td width=999* valign=top><p>Devices for game score keeping may be considered a special type within the field of real-time video projection. With a lap top computer, a video beamer (rapidly becoming standard device in better equipped theatres) and a specialized piece of software it is possible to project the score somewhere on stage. The use of animation in presenting the team markers or score makes the whole thing more professional. <br> <br> A real world example: For the international Improviation festival in <em>theatre Bellevue</em> (October 2000) in Amsterdam an animated score board was made to present the scored points of the different team in between the improvised scenes. </p></td> <td><a href="/en/p-frameset/1096463774" onFocus="this.blur();"><img src="/p-httpd/images/1093810157.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="145" border="0" hspace=6 vspace=5> </a></td> </tr> </table> <a name="scorebord.iif2000"></a> <table width=100% cellpadding=5 cellspacing=0> <tr> <td><a href="/en/p-frameset/1096463661" onFocus="this.blur();"><img src="/p-httpd/images/1093810144.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="150" border="0" hspace=6 vspace=5> </a></td> <td width=999* valign=top><p>It was very uncertain if the system could be used during the performance however. Audience was already walking in while we were still sweating in the technical room. Herman Bessels had mounted his own beamer in the theatre en Arnoud brought his 25 meter VGA extension cable and a video amplifier. Just before the show it became apparent that just one VGA cable was missing to get things woking (thanks so much Hans that you rushed home to get one). When we got that done, the beamer could not be focussed, the lap top gave the wrong output signal and to top it off the battery of the remote control (of the beamer) was running out.<br> <br> Only half a minute before the show opened we solved the problems. During the show everything worked great, so all the hours spend to program and animate the whole thing were not in vain. The lesson to be learned from this all: Either be <strong>completely</strong> self supporting (bring your own beamer and everything that's needed) or have a technical walk-through some days in advance under the <strong>same</strong> circumstances. And oh... Bring spares for all cables and batteries.<br></p></td> </tr> </table> <a name="div.scoreborden"></a> <table width=100% cellpadding=5 cellspacing=0> <tr> <td><p><img src="/p-httpd/images/upload_phps7oZZb.gif" border="0" alt="Div. scoreborden" align="middle" /> </p></td> </tr> </table> <a name="spelvormen"></a> <table width=100% cellpadding=5 cellspacing=0> <tr> <td width=* align=left colspan=2><h1>Games </h1></td> </tr> <tr> <td width=999* valign=top><p>'The Game of Goose' (dutch: <em>Ganzenbord</em>) is an classic board game that was first transformed to an improvisation game form by André Besseling. It is described in his book <em><a target="_blank" href="http://www.itfb.nl/itfb/fondslijst/show_book.php?isbn=9064034915&price=22,65">'Theater vanuit het niets'</a></em>. To play this form, we needed a version of the board with scene challenges that could be projected in the theatre.<br> <br> Four teams play against each other. The team captain rolls a giant dice on stage to determine how many fields the team marker on the beamed board may be advanced. There is a small animation of the marker 'walking' the board to the next field. The next scene to be played is inspired by the 'scene suggestion' that can be made visible there. The beaming of the board between the scenes gives structure to the format and it's a small laugh and surprise every time a suggestion is revealed. <br></p></td> <td><a href="/en/p-frameset/1093777578" onFocus="this.blur();"><img src="/p-httpd/images/1093775595.jpg" alt="Ganzenbord (S)" width="200" height="154" border="0" hspace=6 vspace=5> </a></td> </tr> </table> <a name="ganzenbord2"></a> <table width=100% cellpadding=5 cellspacing=0> <tr> <td><p>It is possible to customize the number of participating teams and their graphical markers in the software. The beamed board can be tailor made to show country flags, team logos and such. The 'scene suggestions' for the forty fields of the board can be easily changed. The format is played already several times during the International Improvisation Festival (Amsterdam) in various languages and lay-outs.<br> <br> The role of the MC in the 'interpretation' of the various text suggestions is not to be underestimated. He or she is responsible for changing the actual 'challenge' of the scene based on circumstances or what the show 'needs' at that moment. One of the MC's, Martijn Hell, has even written a  <a href="/public/ganzenbord.pdf">manual with presentational ideas and pitfalls</a> for the game. This document is only available in the Dutch language.<br> <br> Do you like to know when the next game is played? Or even better: Do do you want to play the format with your team?  Use the <a href="/en/p-content/1087221847" target="content">response form</a> to learn more about the format and the technical requirements.<br></p></td> </tr> </table> <script type="text/javascript"></script> <ul class="menu" id="menu"><li id="d-1087212011" class=" cms_parent"><a href="/en/1087212011">ImproMedia</a><ul><li id="d-1087220762" class=""><a href="/en/1087220762">Effects</a></li><li id="d-1087220833" class=""><a href="/en/1087220833">Musical</a></li><li id="d-1087220789" class=""><a href="/en/1087220789">Image Beaming</a></li></ul></li><li id="d-1087229610" class=""><a href="/en/1087229610">Background Info</a></li><li id="d-percussie" class=" cms_parent"><a href="/en/percussie" title="Live Percussion">Live Percussion</a><ul><li id="d-rhythm" class=""><a href="/en/rhythm" title="Salsa rhythms">Rhythms</a></li><li id="d-conga-stands" class=""><a href="/en/conga.stands" title="Conga Stands">Conga Stands</a></li><li id="d-salsaband" class=""><a href="/en/salsaband" title="Salsaband">Salsaband</a></li></ul></li><li id="d-1087222686" class=" cms_parent"><a href="/en/1087222686">Live SFX Console</a><ul><li id="d-1093779731" class=""><a href="/en/1093779731">Sounds & Music</a></li><li id="d-1087222895" class=""><a href="/en/1087222895">FoleySFX</a></li><li id="d-1093646378" class=""><a href="/en/1093646378">AcoustFX</a></li><li id="d-1093687086" class=""><a href="/en/1093687086">Foley OS X/Linux</a></li></ul></li><li id="d-livescore" class=" cms_parent"><a href="/en/livescore" title="LiveScore">LiveScore</a><ul><li id="d-in-en-uitvoer" class=""><a href="/en/in.en.uitvoer" title="Input and Reports">Input and Reports</a></li></ul></li><li id="d-1087222754" class=" cms_parent"><a href="/en/1087222754">Technical</a><ul><li id="d-1087223102" class=""><a href="/en/1087223102">Downloads</a></li></ul></li><li id="d-gallery" class=""><a href="/en/gallery" title="Gallery">Gallery</a></li><li id="d-1087221847" class=""><a href="/en/1087221847">Contact</a></li></ul> </center> <script type="text/javascript" src="/p-httpd/_cms/os/awstats/awstats_misc_tracker_cookie.js"></script><noscript><img src="/awstats_empty.php?nojs=y" height="0" width="0" style="border-width:0px; display:none;" alt:"awstats" /></noscript></body>